#franchise-tag

#franchise-tag

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Matt BowenESPN Staff Writer

CloseFormer NFL safety Matt Bowen is a veteran of four teams over seven seasons, and now provides analysis for ESPN Insider.We haven't closed the door on 2023 NFL free agency just yet -- Bobby Wagner and Odell Beckham Jr. lead a list of top players still available -- but we're already glancing ahead to the potential of the 2024 class.

There's a reunion in the Mile High City between a pair of former Seahawks teammates.Could it add up to a big year for the Denver Broncos?Nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Frank Clark were teammates in the Pacific Northwest for four seasons from 2015-18.

Ex-Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell infamously sat out of the 2018 season due to a contract dispute.Here's how we would grade the situation.Once upon a time, when Big Ben was more than just a talking statue and Antonio Brown was threading together Pro Bowl seasons rather than pulling at the thread of sanity, a running back from Michigan State was starting to take the league by storm.

Dalvin Cook is available to sign with any team, at any time.That's not likely to last very long.Unlike other free-agent options at running back, such as Ezekiel Elliott and Kareem Hunt, Cook has plenty of tread on the tires.He also has a fully-repaired shoulder, which will allow him to be 100 percent for the first time in a while.

Tony Pollard had a career-high 258 touches last season, including 26 in the postseason.The Cowboys running back is expected to see even more this season with Ezekiel Elliott no longer on the roster.He's ready.Pollard fractured his left fibula in the divisional round playoff loss to the 49ers.He has spent the offseason working his way back.

With quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys played the waiting game - and lost.With Micah Parsons, they should not delay.Parsons, regardless of whether he's a linebacker or a defensive end, is arguably the best defensive player in football.He becomes eligible for a new contract immediately after the 2023 regular season ends.

The New England Patriots have made another high-profile addition to their offense.Mike Gesicki, who was arguably the best tight end available on the market, is joining the organization on a reported one-year contract worth up to $9 million.ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the move.Gesicki, 27, entered the NFL as a second-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018.

The Giants are starting their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and running back Saquon Barkley will not be joining the team.Barkley has not signed his franchise tag, so he's not under any more contractual commitment to be with the team than he was during the voluntary portions of their offseason work.Over the weekend, Barkley said that he believes there have been " misleading " and "untruthful" leaks from the team about long-term offers that Barkley has turned down and that the team has "tried to make me look like I'm greedy" over the last few months.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images As his contract disputes with the New York Giants continues, star running back Saquon Barkley only has one thing on his mind.Respect.Barkley, who had the franchise tag placed on him earlier in the offseason, met with the media Sunday following his youth football camp in Jersey City, New Jersey and talked about his holdout from the organization and getting paid what he deserves.

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is moving to full-time defensive end.Unless he isn't.Parsons has said he's bulking up in advance of a position change.He might change his position on that, after hearing what Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn had to say.Via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com,Quinn says Parsons won't be making the switch to full-time defensive end.

The Cowboys can take their time adding a true replacement for Ezekiel Elliott as the Vikings ponder cutting Dalvin Cook on June 1.Dalvin Cook has been one of the top running backs in the NFL for the past four years but the combination of his dipping efficiency and the Vikings cap issues make him a cut candidate this June unless the team can get a trade done.

Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs are all hoping for new deals to come down the pipeline to remain with the Dallas Cowboys.As we enter the slower part of the NFL offseason, three key members of the Dallas Cowboys roster are hoping for new contracts to be coming in short order: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, cornerback Trevon Diggs and franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Giants and running back Saquon Barkley have not been talking about a new contract recently, but that may be changing in the coming days.Barkley has not signed his franchise tag and has not been taking part in the team's offseason program with the two sides at an impasse in talks about a long-term deal.

Much like the Philadelphia Eagles with Georgia, the Dallas Cowboys like their Michigan Wolverines, as they drafted tight end Luke Schoonmaker to replace Dalton Schultz.When it comes to the Philadelphia Eagles, they sure do love drafting Georgia Bulldogs players.That was evident on Thursday night, as they selected Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and defensive end Nolan Smith with the No. 9 and 30 overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Giants used the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley, giving them until July 15 to sign the running back to a long-term deal.Otherwise, he will play 2023 under the one-year tag of $10.091 million.The team has continued to negotiate with Barkley in hopes of reaching a deal."I told Saquon we want him to be a Giant for his entire career," Giants owner John Mara said, via Dan Graziano of ESPN.

The Cowboys have been active this offseason and have shown they are all in on winning a Super Bowl next season.There is only one last piece to the puzzle and most would argue that is running back and defensive tackle.Both positions will surely be addressed in the 2023 draft, including running back after the Cowboys inked Ronald Jones to a one-year deal.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images The New York Giants have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with running back Saquon Barkley after placing the franchise tag on him this offseason, but there is no contract waiting for him to sign."There's no outstanding offer right now," general manager Joe Schoen said, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll told NFL Network's Judy Battista that the new era of Big Blue football is off to a "good start" with a "foundation" in place but the team still has "a long way to go."
"I thought it was a good start.We laid a foundation.Have a long way to go.

The Dallas Cowboys have overhauled their offense this offseason, and a mock draft just opened the door for a rumor that will split the fanbase.The Dallas Cowboys made two big acquisitions this offseason, one player for each side of the line of scrimmage.On defense, they acquired Indianapolis Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore to pair alongside Trevon Diggs.

In a text discussion with the PFT staff regarding our recent item about Austin Ekeler 's valid (but ultimately futile) complaints regarding the running back market, MDS made an observation that I saw fit to steal.The three running backs currently operating under the franchise tag might be wise to accept their tenders.

The Dallas Cowboys have ripped the proverbial band-aid off in terms of moving on from Ezekiel Elliott, who was released on the first day of the new league year with a post-June 1 designation to save $10.9 million on the salary cap.Roughly 24 hours after they hosted Ronald Jones for a free agent visit, the Cowboys inked the two-time champ to a one-year deal.

The Dallas Cowboys' facelift continues as another of the homegrown stars leave by way of this monster we call the NFL free-agency frenzy (though the frenzied position may be in our rearview mirror).This time the Houston Texans poach the Cowboys' roster and land tight end Dalton Schultz just one day after it was announced that America's Team hand dealt a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick to acquire wide receiver, Brandin Cooks.

DALLAS Cooper Rush is staying in Dallas.The Cowboys on Friday announced that Rush has agreed to a two-year contract that will keep him with the club.The deal was reported to be a total of $6 million.Rush played a key role in the Cowboys' 2022 season, steadying the ship after Dak Prescott went down with an injury in Dallas' first game of the season.

The expectation with tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason is now reality.His time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an end.Gesicki is departing in free agency to join the New England Patriots, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday morning.The talented 6-foot-6 pass-catcher's new contract is for one year and $9 million.

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore could steal a huge free agent away from the Dallas Cowboys.The Dallas Cowboys have made some changes to their offense, notably moving on from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.It didn't take long for Moore to find another gig in the NFL.After all, he was a head coaching candidate the past two years.